TO: Editors, producers, writers
DATE: January 15, 2002
FROM: Trent Stockton410-955-8665/ [email protected]
SUBJECT: "Brain Pacemaker" for Parkinson's Disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday announced its approval of brain stimulation therapy to relieve some of the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, a progressive and degenerative movement disorder. An estimated one million Americans have Parkinson's Disease, and the new therapy is intended to complement treatment of the 100,000 patients in advanced stages whose symptoms are not adequately controlled by medications.
These therapies are similar to those used by Johns Hopkins neurosurgeons to treat more than 400 patients with movement disorders like Parkinson's.
"We've used brain stimulators to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's Disease in fifty-five patients," says Frederick Lenz, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurosurgery at Hopkins. "These procedures are very effective and safe. The FDA's approval means that many more patients seeking relief from this debilitating disease can be treated."
To interview Dr. Lenz about recent developments in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions, contact Trent Stockton at 410-955-8665.
Web sites:
The Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins:
http://www.neuro.jhmi.edu/MvtDis/home.html
The Center of Functional Neurology at Johns Hopkins:
http://www.neuro.jhmi.edu/MvtDis/home.html
For more on Activa Parkinson's Control Therapy, visit http://www.activapresspage.com.
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